Video: St. Peter's Seminary, Cardross

Opened in 1966, St. Peter's Seminary in Cardross, Argyll was, and still is, considered one of the most important and striking examples of mid-20th Century brutalist architecture in the United Kingdom.

The functional life of this beautiful building, however, was cut cruelly short. Owing in part to great internal upheaval in the Catholic church during the years of its construction, by the time it even opened its doors the writing was already on the wall for the Seminary. By 1980, the last seminarian had passed through its concrete cloisters and, after soldiering on for a few more years as a drug rehabilitation centre, the building slipped into abandonment and dereliction by the end of the decade.

Its hollowed-out shell stands there yet, structurally intact for the most part, but being gradually eroded by the Scottish weather and gangs of the local Buckfast appreciation society (a beverage which is itself, quite aptly, produced in a monastery... but I digress). Last year the Seminary made its way onto the World Monument Fund's list of the world's most endangered sites of architectural interest.

I have not, to date, had the personal pleasure of exploring this fascinating and deeply impressive ruin, but Glasgow-based urban explorer "MsBluecat" recently paid a visit and captured some wonderfully atmospheric footage of the site (see below). She also offers the following advice to would-be adventurers:

"It's not wise to go into the underground engineering block as it's riddled with asbestos (I found out after I'd been there). The balcony around the seminary isn't completely safe, so anybody climbing up there does so at their own risk. Also, there was a recent fire at the seminary which has left substantial damage to the ceiling above the alter area, so care should be taken when entering that area. There's also a walled garden near to the seminary which is very much worth a visit - it can be seen on Google Maps."

Here's the video:


And here are some photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons (I promise to get some new and original pics as soon as I have the opportunity to get out there):

Kirklee Station

As promised in my Botanics Station post, here are some pretty pics of Kirklee Station courtesy of local photographer Jonathan McGurk (check out some more of his amazing photographs of the Kirklee - Botanics - Kelvinbridge line here). Now little more than a pair of crumbling concrete platforms, Kirklee was another victim of the Beeching railway closures of the 1960s and, as you can see, has since been reclaimed by nature:





















The flat track bed leads right up to the entrance of the Botanics tunnel:





















Kirklee is very easily accessible to anyone with the slightest interest in checking it out. Enter the Botanic gardens via the Ford Road entrance, turn off the path to your left, pick your way through the bushes and down the slope (can be a little muddy so be careful if you don't want a dirty arse) and you're there.

Video: Kelvingrove tunnel

I wonder how many of Kelvingrove Park's many tourists, joggers, picnickers and duck-feeders know about the eerie world beneath their feet. Here is a short video I threw together a couple of months ago documenting my little expedition into this world one afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Kelvingrove Tunnel:

Botanic Gardens Railway Station

The above graffito is one of the first sights to greet the brave visitor upon entrance to the Botanics tunnel. Unsurprisingly, the artist remains unknown, but "Meat for the Beast" has since become a kind of mini-meme among Glaswegian UrbExers and this little wall-doodle has probably brought about a few changes-of-hearts in aspiring tunnel tourists (ohh err!). But don't be put off: I've been down there several times and have yet to be skinned alive or sodomized by anything resembling a troll; in fact, it's a painless and very rewarding starting place for the budding urban rambler.

The tunnel itself is actually quite easy to find and simple to navigate once inside. The ground is a little rocky, strewn with occasional potholes and debris - decent boots/shoes are essential - but the going is far from strenuous (honestly, your arthritic grandmother could make it if it wasn't for her cataracts). Speaking of which, parts of the way are extremely dark, so you will need to bring a powerful flashlight.

Parts of the station itself, which was originally built as part of the Glasgow Central Railway line and closed on 6 February 1939, can actually be safely viewed from the surface, thanks to the huge, open air-ducts in the ceiling. Glasgow City Council have even been so kind as to provide a placard explaining this at the point where curious visitors can gaze down into the gloom (see pictures).

But you don't want to spend your afternoon peering over railings like a kid - you want to get down there, right? Okeydokey. First you have to scramble down a muddy embankment in the Botanic Gardens, behind some bushes near the Kirklee/Ford Road enterance to the park. You'll know you're in the right place when you stumble across the overgrown remnants of Kirklee Station, another victim of the Glasgow Central Railway Line's closure. It's a cool place too but I don't have many good photos of it (EDIT: photographer Jonathan McGurk was kind enough to let me use some of his: here). From here, follow the direction of the tracks - or rather the groove in the Earth where they used to be - and you will arrive at a huge steel gate across an archway. If you're lucky, it won't be padlocked, and you're in:

The first stretch of tunnel runs for about a hundred yards or so, curving slightly, until it reaches another gate marking the entrance to the station proper. There is also a second, much longer, stretch past the end of the Botanics Station, which contains some interesting geological formations and runs all the way to the remains of Kelvinbridge Railway Station. Enjoy the pics:

Greetings fellow creeps!

Welcome to Glasgow Urban Exploration, a crappy new blog that brings together the best* pics, videos and random shite from around the web relating to the hidden Glasgow - the city beneath your feet, over your head and up that overgrown lane littered with dumped tyres and six-year-old soiled nappies.

Some of the material I will be posting is from my own exploits, some will be from stuff I find online, and rest - I hope - will come from you! So please do send me your photos and videos* of old, strange, interesting and off-limits places in the Glasgow area and in return you'll get a virtual pat on the back and the chance to see your name in lights on my hidden, obscure little blog (quite fitting I'm sure you'll agree).



* or more accurately, the pics, videos and random shite I could find in a five minute Google search and get permission to use.

* What I don't want, however, is chavvy mobile-phone footage of you and your pals desecrating headstones at Glasgow Necropolis or smashing the priceless stained-glass windows of an abandoned church with flying Bucky bottles. Nor can I use images that belong to someone other than youself, unless they give their express permission, or copyrighted material.